Eight in 10 seniors would make greater and more frequent use of information and communications technology (ICT) if they had ready access to technical support and assistance, according to in-house customer-based market research carried out by Bask. One of the largest providers of managed tech support services to residential and small business customers in the U.S., Bask management has renamed and re-branded the company, which was formerly known at iTOK.
Well over 8 in 10 survey respondents agreed that ICT can help them live longer in their own homes. Four in 10 (39 percent) said they felt only somewhat connected or not connected at all to their families. Among this group, nearly 8 in 10 (78 percent) agreed that being able to use ICT would help them connect with family and friend to a greater degree.
Bask’s findings reinforce results of other research, such as Brookdale Senior Living’s ¨Rewiring Aging,¨ in which researchers found that more than one-quarter (27 percent) of seniors over 80 are ¨virtual shut-ins.¨
Similarly, home and small-business tech support is seen as having high growth potential, particularly in light of hype and investment in the fast-emerging ¨Internet of Things.¨
Seniors Technology Survey
“Seniors believe technology can help them stay connected and independent, but they need a trustworthy support line to learn the ins and outs of new technology,” Bask CEO James P. Dunn was quoted as saying.
Seniors make up the fastest growing age group in the U.S., which points to a growing need and business opportunity, he added. “There is a tremendous opportunity for companies to address the growing gap between technologically advanced Millennials and an aging population of Boomers who feel left behind as the digital world evolves.
“These findings prove that many seniors want to use technology, but they need authentic, comprehensive support.”
